INITIATIVE TO HELP SENIORS UNDERSTAND MEDICARE PART D

JANUARY 01, 2006

Wilmington, Del, was one of the first
cities to debut My Medicare Matters, a
new comprehensive national eduction
program to assist Medicare individuals
in understanding the new Medicare Part
D Drug Benefit. The initiative will help
seniors assess their personal situation,
compare plan options, understand their
choices, and make the enrollment decision
that is appropriate for their health
and financial situation. My Medicare
Matters provides a combination of technology
and mobile education teams for
one-on-one help for seniors and other
individuals with Medicare.

During events sponsored by community-
based organizations, seniors will
have the opportunity to talk with benefit
educators about coverage options.
The educators will use Internet-based
tools such as BenefitsCheckUpRx from
the National Council
on the Aging (NCOA) or
the Medicare Plan
Finder to review the individual's
options. The mobile education teams
are available to help seniors complete
the on-line enrollment process or
advise them about methods for joining
a plan.

The www.mymedicarematters.org
Web site is available for use by
Medicare beneficiaries, by their family
members and friends, or by professionals
and organization staff members.
Individuals will be able to enroll on-line
or request extra help from the Social
Security Administration. The program is
sponsored by NCOA and the Access to
Benefits Coalition. AstraZeneca is lending
its support with an initial $10 million
grant to NCOA.